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Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day – It commemorates U.S. soldiers who’ve died while in military service to our country. It’s meant to be a solemn day of remembrance to honor those that made the ultimate sacrifice – those who gave or lost their lives in our nation’s service towards our cherished freedom. Presently we observe Memorial Day on the last Monday in May (formerly the observance use to take place on a set date each year – that being May 30).

We are eternally grateful for those men and women who unselfishly gave their lives while serving our country around the world during wartime – World War I (1917-1918), World War II (1941-1945), the Korean War (1950-1953), the Vietnam War (1964-1975), the Gulf War (1990-1991) as well as those who have perished in the current War on Terror (2001-Present).

Many people traditionally observe Memorial Day locally by visiting cemeteries and memorials. On a national level, a moment of remembrance takes place at 3 p.m. in everyone’s local time zone. Another long time tradition is to fly the American flag at half-staff (half-massed) from dawn until noon local time. Volunteers often place American flags on each grave site at local, regional and National Cemeteries. Many communities around the country stage parades, family activities and events, memorial assemblies and/or patriotic concerts on Memorial Day or over the long weekend.

Many Americans also look upon Memorial Day as the unofficial beginning or kick-off of summer – a three day holiday weekend to head out camping or backyard BBQ’s or water sports, etc. simply enjoying good times with family and friends.

Now – as far as songs to memorialize or to be dedicated to those who have died – the following list covers a wide array of songs from different eras, generations and genres – This should be able to help you in preparing a playlist or custom CD to use at whatever you’re planning during this holiday period. Lots of possibilities here to choose from and at least a few of them may be ideal to use as a memorial or tribute. A number of the songs listed here will probably overlap the ones listed on other posts that I have made for Veteran’s Day, Independence Day (4th of July), American Pride & Patriotic Songs and the 9/11 (Patriot Day) Songs of Remembrance.

Memorial DaySongs As A Tribute

50,000 Names – George Jones

A GI Wish – The Four Vagabonds

A Soldier’s Prayer – Collin Raye

America Is My Home – James Brown

America We Stand As One – Dennis Madalone

America Will Always Stand – Randy Travis

America Will Survive – Hank Williams Jr.

American Soldier – Toby Keith

American Trilogy – Elvis Presley, Mickey Newberry

American Tune – Paul Simon

Arlington – Trace Adkins

Ashes To Ashes – Steve Earle

Ballad of Ira Hayes – Johnny Cash

Ballad of The Green Beret – SSgt. Barry Sadler

Bang The Drum Slowly – Emmylou Harris

Battle Hymn of The Republic – Mitch Miller & His Gang

Belleau Wood – Garth Brooks

Billy Don’t Be A Hero – Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods

Born In The USA – Bruce Springsteen

Bring Them Home – Pete Seeger

Brothers Under The Bridge – Bruce Springsteen

Comin’ In On A Wing & A Prayer – The Four Vagabonds (1943)

Courtesy of The Red, White & Blue (The Angry American) – Toby Keith

Day For Decision – Johnny Sea (1966)

Days of America – Blackhawk

Empty Boots – Carol Williams

Everyday Angels – Radney Foster

Far Away – Nickelback

Fightin’ Side Of Me – Merle Haggard

The Forgotten Soldier Boy – The Monroe Brothers (1936)

Freedom – Paul McCartney

God Bless The Soldier – Rhonda Vincent

God Bless The USA – Lee Greenwood

God, Country & Family – Craig Morgan

Goodnight Saigon – Billy Joel

Green Fields of France – Dropkick Murphys

Hands That Built America – U2

Have You Forgotten? – Darryl Worley

He Wears A Pair Of Silver Wings – Dinah Shore

Hello God – Dolly Parton

Hello Vietnam – Dave Dudley/Johnnie Wright

Here Comes The Freedom Train – Merle Haggard

Homeland – Kenny Rogers

I Am Mine – Pearl Jam

I Told Them What You’re Fighting For – Mother Maybelle Carter (1966)

I Will Be Home Again – Golden Gate Quartet (1945)

I’m Already There – Lonestar

If You’re Reading This – Tim McGraw

The Immigrant – Neil Sedaka

In America – Charlie Daniels Band

Just A Dream – Carrie Underwood

Last Band of Brothers – Keni Thomas

Last Day At Gettysburg

Last Fallen Angel – Charlie Daniels

Last Letter Home – Dropkick Murphys

Let’s Roll – Neil Young

Let’s Roll America – Bellamy Brothers

Letter From America – The Proclaimers

Letters From Home – John Michael Montgomery

Letters From War – Mark Schultz

Living In The Promised Land – Willie Nelson

More Beautiful Today – Mark McGuinn

No One To Welcome Me Home – Hank Williams Sr.

Oh Freedom – Pete Seeger

One Letter Home – Jazz Gillum (1941)

Only In America – Brooks & Dunn

Our Country – John Mellencamp

Overcome – Live

The Patriot – Johnny Cash

Point of Light – Randy Travis

Poor Rebel Soldier – Flatt & Scruggs

Praise The Lord & Pass The Ammunition – Kay Kyser & His Orchestra

Ragged Old Flag – Johnny Cash

Red, White & Blue – Brian McKnight

Red, White & Blue – Lynyrd Skynyrd

Remember Pearl Harbor – Sammy Kaye & His Orchestra

Remembrance Day – Bryan Adams

Riding With Private Malone – David Ball

The Rising – Bruce Springsteen

Shhh, It’s A Military Secret – Glenn Miller & His Orchestra

Singin’ The Vietnam Talkin’ Blues – Johnny Cash (1971)

Soldier’s Joy – Jimmy Driftwood (1957)

Some Gave All – Billy Ray Cyrus

Song Of The Patriot – Johnny Cash

Still In Saigon – Charlie Daniels Band

The Big Parade – 10,000 Maniacs

There You’ll Be – Faith Hill

There’s A Star Spangled Banner Flying Somewhere – Elton Britt (1942)

This Ain’t No Rag (It’s A Flag) – Charlie Daniels Band

This Is My Country – The Impressions (Curtis Mayfield)

This Is Worth Fighting For – Shep Fields (1942)

This Land Is Your Land – Woody Guthrie, Peter, Paul & Mary, The Kingston Trio

I would add David Bradley’s “Get a Hero Home”, written by Cory Batten and Phillip Pence. The song was released in December of 2011 but hasn’t had any commercial success. It tells of a soldier just home from Iraq trying to hitch a ride from Virginia to Tucson, Arizona and the truckers who get him home to his wife and baby. Bradley’s a country singer from England now living in Nashville.